SeaTreat Pate

To make this dish with speed and agility, it is time to pull out your food processor.  For the raw food chef, this machine turns a lot of cutting and dicing into a simple push of the button. 

Sea Treat Pate

Ingredients:

1 red onion

1 C snow peas, tops removed

1 1/2C sunflower seeds, soaked 2 hrs

3 garlic cloves

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp olive oil

1/4 tsp salt

1/4-1/2C water, just enough to make a creamy consistency

1/2C soaked Dulse (10 min)

1 tsp lemon zest

1/2C soaked Arame (10 min)

Process separately and then place in a medium sized bowl.

• 1 red onion, pulsed in food processor 
• 1 C snow peas, pulsed in food processor

Process Together and then add to above veggies:

• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 1/2C sunflower seeds, soaked 2 hrs
• 2 tbsp lemon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4-1/2C water, just enough to make a creamy consistency
• At the very end, pulse in 1/2 c soaked dulse (a 10 min soak should do)

Finally Mix in Arame and lemon zest, stir well and enjoy!

Immuno Latte

I love my morning coffee.  Really Love coffee. 

MAYBE the only thing I like better is a latte.  

Unfortunately, it's not good for me and my constitution.  There are lots of good substitutes, but really when it gets down to it you need something full bodied, warm and deeply satisfying.

In comes my reishi, chaga latte.  

Tree mushroom are an amazing medicine.  I'm going to keep my explanation short, as you could literally write a book on them (and there are plenty of books regarding the subject) I suggest looking in it further if this entices you.  What I will tell you are the basics.  They are immunomodulators.  What does this mean exactly?  They strengthen your immune system.  Over time it will build, however I feel the effects in the beginning myself.  Please don't get this confused with immune stimulators.  Herbs in the echinacea family, for example, are immune stimulants.  These are great if you feel a sickness coming on, however overstimulating your immune system is not healthy if it is not fighting against an oncoming cold or flu.  You will overtax and burn it out.  Also, good to note, these immunostimulators should not be taken if you have an autoimmune disorder. In this case your system is already overstimulated and attacking itself.  This is where immunomodulators come into play.  If your immune system is low it will bring it up, if it is high it will bring it down.  Reishi, "The Mushroom of Immortality" and Chaga, "King of Medicinal Mushrooms", are two of my very favorite mushrooms.  When I am consistently consuming them I feel stronger, healthier and tend to ward off sickness easier.  

Tree mushrooms are very woody and cannot be eaten as a ground mushroom.  They are best used in tea, soups and powders. When making a tea from a medicinal mushroom you need to decoct it. Which is cooking at a slow simmer for about 2 hours (other herbs that require decoction can generally be simmered for 45 minutes).  Strain the herb, and if you'd like, take the strained herb and tincture it to further pull out medicinal qualities, such as immunomodulating polysaccharides. For this recipe, all that you need is the tea.  I make a large pot of tea and use it for the family over the course of the next few days.  Mushrooms go a long way for the price and as far as bang for your buck, here it is.

In this recipe I've added Maca for its hormone balancing qualities, cacao for antioxidant and as a delivery system for the medicine (Cacao helps to deliver nutrients into your blood.  Take it with medicine verses low quality milk and refined sugar to optimize the medicinal benefits). Coconut oil and butter for the multitude of coconut oil as well as slowing the release of the latte into my system and making it into more of a meal (Don't be afraid of fats as we need these for proper brain function and believe it or not, in order to lose weight!) A sprinkling of cinnamon helps balance your blood sugar.

Try it out and let me know how you like it!  

Visit my Nourishing Yogi Facebook Page  with any questions or comments!

And without further ado...

Reishi Chaga Latte

2C warm Chaga Reishi Mushroom Tea (Decoct (simmer) mushrooms 1- 2+ hrs and strain)

2 tbsp coconut oil

2 tbsp coconut butter

10 drops vanilla sweetleaf stevia

3 tbsp cacao nibs

1 good tbsp of your favorite honey

1 tsp-1tbsp maca

Twist of your best salt

Blend Well

Top with a dash of cinnamon and enjoy!

Raw and Spicy Noodles

A friend and I have decided to do a 90 day, 100%,  raw food cleanse.  

Most days it is a raw, organic cake walk.  

Some days, after I make the family a delicious, homemade meal

or we go to a party,

Not so easy.  

I've assembled this recipe for those moments.  

When I just need something filling, grounding and completely satisfying.

For those of you who have never experienced kelp noodles, they are a great alternative to a wheat or rice noodle.  They are raw, a sea vegetable, and fill the belly in a delicious sort of way.  

You can use them in soups, mac and cheese, stir-frys or with a marinara.  Use with raw sauces or cooked toppings, they are a wonderful and mineral rich substitute.  I have been enjoying the "Sea Tangle" brand.  

A side note about kelp noodle preparation:

I recommend rinsing them well, and then emptying the bag into a bowl and immersing them in hot water for at least 30 minutes. 

I also prefer, when possible, to put my dressing on them and let them marinate at room temperature for a while before eating, to soften them up further. If not, they can have a funny crunchy texture, which can be ok, too.

If you don't have access to kelp noodles, homemade zucchini noodles from a spiralizer or veggie peeler work great for this recipe too!

And on to the Raw and Spicy Noodles!

Noodles

1 lb Kelp Noodles

1 cup shredded carrot

1 cup chopped scallion

1/2 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper

3 Tbsp chopped cilantro

3 Tbsp chopped Parsley

SAUCE

1/3 cup smooth, raw almond butter

1/4 cup soy sauce (Tamari, nama shoyu, coconut aminos, braggs liquid aminos)

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons sesame oil

2 dates, soaked 30 min

2 cloves garlic

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon chopped ginger

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

After preparing kelp noodles, toss noodle ingredients into a large bowl.  

Blend sauce ingredients well.

Pour sauce onto noodles and mix well.  

Top with optional sesame seeds.

Let sit 1 hour at room temp to further soften noodles.

Enjoy warm or cold.